Stephen A. Smith has long been the face of ESPN, but new details surrounding his contracts highlight just how valuable he has become to the sports media landscape.
According to The Athletic, Smith signed a five-year agreement with ESPN worth $105 million, paying him about $21 million annually.
On top of that, he secured a three-year, $36 million deal with SiriusXM, adding another $12 million each year to his income.
The figures don’t stop there. Smith reportedly earns an additional $7 million annually through his podcast appearances and his growing YouTube presence. Combined, his total yearly earnings are approaching $40 million, a sum that places him among the most highly compensated figures in sports broadcasting.
Yahoo Sports underscored the enormity of his salary in a viral social media post which set off a wave of reactions from fans online, many of whom expressed surprise at the scale of Smith‘s pay. While some praised his unmatched work ethic and ability to dominate ratings, others voiced skepticism about whether any media personality should command such a figure.
“Never did anyone so unskilled in their craft relative to pay, exist,” @KevinRVasquez posted on X.
@Shady_Justin added: “WAY overpaid.”
Success comes during a turbulent time for “First Take”
Smith‘s contracts highlight his influence at ESPN, but the timing also comes during a period of change for the network’s flagship morning debate show, First Take.
Earlier this week, longtime moderator Molly Qerim announced she was leaving the program after a decade at the desk. Her departure reportedly stemmed from stalled contract negotiations, creating uncertainty around one of ESPN’s most recognizable shows.
Smith, who has been synonymous with First Take since its transformation into a debate-driven ratings juggernaut, now faces the task of navigating the next chapter without Qerim.
Her chemistry with Smith and rotating guests helped sustain the show’s dominance, and ESPN will be under pressure to find a replacement who can maintain its success.
For Smith personally, though, the financial picture has never been brighter. His dual deals with ESPN and SiriusXM demonstrate the media industry’s willingness to invest in personalities who can drive conversation, ratings, and subscriptions.
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